"We saw the dedication [last year] to the core and back program, which gave us confidence that that would be behind him," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said, per McCullough. "And felt really good about the risk that we took last year. We're optimistic that there's even another gear in there."

The fact that Anderson's back has flared up again is a cause for concern.

The matter is compounded by the fact that L.A.'s pitching staff is dealing with several medical issues at the moment, per NBC Sports' Drew Silva:

Considering Anderson's confidence was on the rise following a healthy and productive first season in Los Angeles, it's unfortunate for the Dodgers that he has taken a step back at this juncture in 2016.

Another back injury will also hurt Anderson's potential earning power. The southpaw told the Los Angeles Times' Dylan Hernandez he passed up "some multiyear offers" over the fall, instead opting to sign a one-year qualifying offer with the Dodgers.

Now a prospective free agent following the 2016 season, Anderson will need to return from the procedure and perform at a high level to try to snag another long-term contract.